1922 – 2015
Commander U.S. Coast Guard • World War II Veteran • Antarctic Navigator MIT-trained Electrical Engineer • Global Navigation System Developer and Inventor • Active Community Volunteer • Devoted Husband and Father of Seven
James P. Van Etten, Jim to those who knew him, lived a life of service to his country, his family and church, and his beloved community of Nutley, NJ, where he lived for over 40 years. In all phases of his life, Jim was admired for his kindness, dignity, and intelligence and ability to find common ground with people. His work spanned 14 years of active duty with the U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) during and after World War II (WW2), an advanced degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a 26-year career at International
Telephone and Telegraph in Nutley, where he led development of the long-range navigation technology (notably including LORAN), volunteer work in education, and, closest to his heart, working for individuals with special needs.
Jim was born in Perry, NY, the youngest of three boys, and spent most of his youth in Seneca Falls, NY. He became the valedictorian of Mynderse Academy in Seneca Falls and attended the U. S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where he became the valedictorian of the class of 1944. This class graduated in 1943 under an accelerated program designed to assist the war effort, and upon graduation Jim was immediately commissioned in the USCG.
Military Service
During WW2, Jim served on the icebreaker Eastwind, which patrolled in the North Atlantic. Like many veterans of WW2, Jim rarely spoke about wartime experiences, but one tale made it into the public domain. In October 1944, the Eastwind was patrolling off the northeast coast of Greenland when a surveillance seaplane identified a weather station set up by the Germans on Little Koldeway Island. Two days later, a landing party from the Eastwind captured the twelve Germans stationed there without a shot being fired and shut down the station. A few days later, the Eastwind also captured a German freighter, Externsteine, that had been trapped in the ice nearby. The German ship surrendered after the Eastwind fired three salvos (one short, one long, and one across its bow). The crew renamed the captured ship Eastbreeze
and the USCG put it to use in its operations for several months before taking it to Boston harbor.
In 1946, Jim was assigned as a navigator on the secret Antarctic Development Project led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd known as “Operation HIGHJUMP”. This was the largest single Antarctic expedition ever launched, with 13 ships, 23 aircraft and over 4700 men. Though it was summer, the weather in Antarctica was extreme. Jim was one of the navigators on the only icebreaker on the mission, guiding ships through treacherous ice. He often needed to go up in a helicopter or seaplane to survey the ice-scape to determine the best
approach. This expedition is chronicled in the film “The Secret Land” and is further described in the book titled “ICE is where you find it” by Captain Charles W. Thomas.
After returning from Antarctica, Jim served the USCG in a number of domestic assignments, including as a postgraduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950. From 1950 to 1954 he served as executive officer and then commanding officer of the USCG electronics engineering center in Cape May, New Jersey. From 1954 to 1956, he served as commanding officer of the USCG cutter Conifer, based in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. From 1956 to 1958 he served in the navigation branch of the USCG headquarters in Washington, DC with focus on development of the more advanced LORAN-C system. In 1958, he transitioned to the Ready
Reserves, ultimately attaining the rank of Commander.
ITT Career
In 1958, Jim began his 26-year career at ITT Avionics Laboratories in Nutley, where he became a leader in navigation engineering, largely concentrating on LORAN technologies. What is LORAN, and why does it matter? LORAN stands for LOng RAnge Navigation. It is “long range” because its receivers get radio signals from transmitters that may be over 1,000 miles away. LORAN requires transmitters that send the signals as well as receivers that read and analyze them. ITT worked in the manufacture of receivers as well as the development and maintenance of transmitting stations. LORAN provided jobs and meaningful work to many residents of Nutley, Clifton and beyond.
After WW2, LORAN was adopted by the USCG to enhance marine navigation. Newer versions of LORAN were developed under Jim’s leadership. LORAN-C provided greater range and more precise accuracy. In 1974, the U.S. government selected LORAN-C as its national radio navigation system within the coastal confluence region of the U.S. LORAN-D was a tactical portable version designed for short-range service. LORAN began during World War II as an aid to the navigation of allied aircraft and ship convoys and became
one of the most significant technological developments of that era and beyond. With the newer versions, what once could be accurately located within tens of miles, could now be pinpointed to within tens of feet, an enormous advantage to both military and civil aircraft and ships.
During the Vietnam war, pilots using LORAN-D found it had shortcomings. To investigate, Jim went to Vietmam and flew on missions as an observer to assess the problem. It turned out there were failures under extreme conditions such as flying upside down or undertaking steep dives or climbs. Jim solved the problem by developing a “feedback loop” that would recognize and account for the extreme conditions.
While at ITT, Jim served as a member of the newly formed USCG Science Advisory Committee from 1969 to 1973. He received a Public Service Commendation for his service on this committee. Jim was also an active participant in leading industry organizations and received a number of awards for his contributions.
Notably:
● While a senior member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEEE), Jim was named a Fellow of the IEEE “for contributions to the development of the LORAN radio navigation system” in 1991.
● He was a Member of the Institute of Navigation, which is the world’s premier, nonprofit professional society, advancing the art and science of positioning, navigation, and timing.
● He was a Founding Director of the Wild Goose Association (WGA), later known as the International LORAN Association; he served as a director from its inception in 1972 through 1991, and was its president from 1974 through 1976.
● He was a member of the Association of Old Crows, which is an international nonprofit professional organization, specializing in electronic warfare, tactical, information, operations, and associated disciplines.
Jim was named the inventor on patents relating to LORAN technology, and papers he wrote were referenced in other patents. For many years, Jim’s NJ license plate was “LORANC”.
Community and Family Legacy
In 1947, Jim married Grace Lavelle in Scranton, Pennsylvania. By 1958, when they moved to Nutley, Jim and Grace had five children. Two more children, Joan and Paul, and 21 grandchildren were born while they lived in Nutley at 230 Rutgers Place.
In 1964, when Jim and Grace were blessed with a son, Paul, born with Down Syndrome, Jim became a forceful advocate to break societal barriers. At a time when many special needs children were hidden, he fought for equal access to services and housing for all special needs individuals.
Jim was known as “One of Nutley’s Finest”. He was deeply involved in his community and church. He served for several years as president of the St. Mary’s Board of Education, including through the challenging years
as enrollments declined and costs increased. Jim loved Nutley and its beautiful parks. He and Grace rode their bikes around town and together with Paul took long walks. Grace often said “it was Paul who really made us a family.” Jim led by example, not only in his proud care of Paul, but in ordinary behaviors. Reflecting his quiet commitment to civic pride, he frequently carried a trash bag on his walks around town, setting a personal example of stewardship by picking up any litter he encountered.
James P Van Etten died at home in 2015 at the age of 93, leaving behind a profound legacy of intelligence, dignity and kindness—a life of service to his family, community and country.